We’re approaching the halfway mark of the 2026 Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship, with narratives beginning to take shape across both the SX1 and SX2 categories. In this Top 10 feature, MotoOnline outlines the main topics to follow heading into Geelong’s AUSX Open this Saturday.

Image: Supplied.

1. Crunch time at AUSX championship’s middle stages:
Geelong’s AUSX Open – round three of the Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship – shapes up to be a pivotal weekend for several of the sport’s leading contenders across both the SX1 and SX2 divisions. The outcome could go a long way towards setting the tone for the final two rounds of 2026, with riders such as Christian Craig having an opportunity to strengthen his SX1 title aspirations. Meanwhile, Lux Turner will be looking for a strong result in Victoria to keep his SX2 championship challenge on track. In short, it’s crunch time this Saturday, with Geelong proving decisive in shaping the remainder of the series.

2. Shimoda and Barcia join Roczen and Davies in Geelong:
We’ve already seen the impact Ken Roczen and Cole Davies can have on the AUSX field, with both riders sweeping all three finals in Auckland – Davies in particular facing little in the way of opposition. Add Justin Barcia and Jo Shimoda to the SX1 line-up, and it’ll be intriguing to see how they stack up against the likes of Roczen and Craig, as well as leading Australian contenders Luke Clout and Aaron Tanti. Their inclusion will undoubtedly strengthen an already competitive field and add another dimension to the racing inside GMHBA Stadium.

3. AUSX SX2 series tied between Connolly and McAdoo:
Honda Racing teammates Brodie Connolly and Cameron McAdoo share the lead of the AUSX SX2 standings, with Connolly claiming the round one victory in Townsville before McAdoo secured second overall in New Zealand. You’d expect the 28-year-old American to only get stronger with further seat time aboard the CRF250R, something already evident in the step forward between his Townsville and Auckland performances. Both riders arrive at this stage of their careers with different narratives, but an AUSX title would carry significant meaning for each for very different reasons.

Image: Foremost Media.

4. Injury toll mounting after two rounds:
Unfortunately, the injury toll mounted in New Zealand, with multiple riders experiencing issues and missing various parts of the weekend. It began with a press day crash involving Jed Beaton and Matt Moss, with both withdrawing from the round entirely, and their status for Geelong is still TBA as of today. Hayden Mellross then injured his ankle in practice, ruling him out of Saturday’s racing, although he’ll attempt to line up in Geelong and push through the lingering discomfort. The second Ducati of Dylan Wills also endured a bruising outing in Auckland, but is set to return to the grid this Saturday, while Jayce Cosford has been ruled out of round three, the team announced.

5. Clout remains Australia’s title hopeful in SX1 division:
As is often the case at this time of year, Luke Clout is leading the charge for the Australian contingent in the AUSX SX1 championship. We’ve said it before, but the fact that he continues to run at the front from a pace standpoint speaks volumes about his ability, particularly in supercross, where he’s consistently gone toe-to-toe with the likes of Justin Brayton, Joey Savatgy, Dean Wilson and now Christian Craig. He looks comfortable aboard the KTM Racing Team 450 SX-F, although balancing outright speed with consistency remains a difficult proposition. Do you ride within your means and wait for Craig to make a mistake, or push the limits if the Californian continues to deliver? It’s a fine line to walk.

6. Rebound targeted for former AUSX champion Anstie in Geelong:
Two-time AUSX SX2 champion Max Anstie arrives with expectations of championship success given his credentials, although he has ground to make up and will need a strong outing at Geelong. The MXRP-backed Yamaha deal came together at the last minute following the dissolution of the World Supercross Championship (WSX), with Anstie and the team continuing to iron out the details aboard his YZ250F. He was hampered by a 15th gate pick throughout the night in Auckland, so avoiding a repeat of that scenario will be high on his agenda this Saturday.

Image: Foremost Media.

7. Troubled start for Joe Rascal Racing Ducati so far:
It’s been a challenging start to AUSX for Joe Rascal Racing Ducati, with both Matt Moss and Dylan Wills yet to make the racing program across the opening two rounds. Understandably frustrating for all involved as the first-year team looks to get some points on the board, Geelong presents another opportunity to reset this weekend. Wills is confirmed to line up, while Moss’ involvement remains a question mark, with a decision expected on Friday.

8. A third destination for AUSX Open international event in 2026:
Something that perhaps hasn’t been discussed all that much is that Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium will become the third venue to host the AUSX Open international event, following Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and Sydney’s now-titled Afterpay Arena. It marks another milestone in the history of this iconic event, and it’ll be interesting to see what’s in store to differentiate this weekend’s spectacle from Auckland and Townsville. The city of Geelong itself has plenty to offer, and as an alternative to Marvel Stadium, it presents a solid option for the event in 2026.

9. Craig zeroes in on maiden AUSX SX1 title:
As previously mentioned, Geelong marks a pivotal point in the 2026 SX1 championship, with Craig having an opportunity to further establish himself as the rider to beat. Not that he hasn’t already done so, but another strong result this weekend would really reinforce that position, further denting the title hopes of contenders such as Clout. Alternatively, if the New South Welshman can close the gap, it could set up an intriguing momentum shift with just two rounds remaining.

10. Distinguishing between AUSX and Australian Supercross Championship:
We’ve been presented with something of a conundrum in 2026, with the opening AUSX round not counting towards the Motorcycling Australia-sanctioned Australian Supercross Championship. Subsequently, finding standings for the AUSX championship has proven difficult – if not outright impossible – while we were also without series-leader red plates in Auckland for Townsville winners Craig and Connolly. Only Ryder Kingsford carried a red background as last year’s Australian Supercross SX2 champion, further adding to the confusion. Greater clarity around the distinction between the two championships would certainly help, particularly for fans trying to understand which title race they should be following.